A simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS assay was developed and validated for rapid determination of thiosemicarbazide derivative of isoniazid (TSC-INH), a potent anti-candidal agent in rat plasma, tissues, urine and feces. All biological samples were prepared by protein precipitation method using celecoxib as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on Acquity BEH™ C18 (50×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column using gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The MRM transitions were monitored at m/z 305.00→135.89 for TSC-INH and m/z 380.08→316.03 for IS in ESI negative mode. All validation parameter results were within the acceptable range described in guideline for bioanalytical method validation. The pharmacokinetic study showed that the compound TSC-INH was orally active with 66% absolute bioavailability in rats. It was rapidly absorbed with peak plasma concentration of 1985.92 ng/mL achieved within 1 h after single oral dose (10 mg/kg) administration. TSC-INH exhibited rapid distribution across the body with highest levels in liver and lungs. Penetration in brain tissues suggests that TSC-INH crossed the blood brain barrier. Only 5.23% of the orally administered drug was excreted as unconverted form in urine and feces implying that TSC-INH was metabolized extensively before excretion. With the preliminary knowledge of in vivo pharmacokinetics and disposition properties, this study will be beneficial for further development of compound TSC-INH in future studies.

Background: There are few studies investigating the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-1-infected children on antiretroviral therapy (ART), but no data from Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of LTBI in HIV-1-infected children on ART in our clinic. Knowing the prevalence and thus the burden of LTBI could help improve HIV care by enabling targeted isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis.

Method: This observational study was carried out from September 2016 to August 2017 at the pediatric HIV clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital among HIV-1-infected children on ART, aged 6 months-15 years. LTBI was diagnosed using an interferon-gamma release assay, the ELISpot test, T-SPOT®.TB assay (Oxford Immunotec, Abingdon, UK) on freshly collected whole blood samples within 2 h. Children with a positive test were treated with INH after first excluding TB by chest X-ray and clinical evaluation.

Results: Of the 90 children studied, 4 (4.4%) had LTBI diagnosed by ELISpot. Their median interquartile range (IQR) age was 10.4 years (7.9-12.5), the majority were male (54.4%) and most of them had originally received Bacille Calmette-Guérin (83/89, 93.3%). They had a median CD4 count of 694 cells/μL (472-1045). The median (IQR) CD4 count was higher in LTBI compared to non-LTBI children: 1286 cells/μL (953-1375) versus 683 cells/μL (465-1040), (P = 0.044).

Conclusion: Although this study showed a very low prevalence of LTBI in our setting, it was still beneficial to the few children on ART identified with LTBI as it enabled treatment with INH. A larger study will be required to ascertain the actual burden of LTBI in such children in our setting.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; ELISpot; HIV-1; children; latent tuberculosis; prevalence.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by acute, recurrent attacks of localized edema. Surgical procedures, trauma, and infections have been considered as potential triggers of HAE. Although HAE is a rare genetic disorder, approximately 50-60% of all HAE patients are involved with at least one occurrence of upper airway obstruction. The airway trouble is the most life-threating complication in HAE patients because HAE-related edema does not respond to typical treatment, such as administration of epinephrine, antihistamines, or glucocorticoids. Indeed, mortality rates of laryngeal attack are estimated around 25% to 40%. Here we describe a case of undiagnosed HAE patient undergoing emergency caesarean section under neuraxial blockade. A 31-year-old woman showed multiple regions at her lip margin during surgery and rapidly developed lip swelling after admission to the ward. Neither respiratory nor hemodynamic instability was found during and after surgery. Immediately, in order to assess whether HAE caused these dermatological manifestations, we measured values of both complement component 4 (C4) and functional activity of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-inh), a protein of the complement system. These laboratory data showed low levels, which were compatible with HAE definition. After commencement of C1-inhibitor replacement therapy, her lip swelling and erythema gradually disappeared without adverse drug reactions. The patient was finally discharged from our institution 10 days after surgery.

In this study, the structure, spectroscopy, and photochemistry of isoniazid (C6H7N3O, INH) were studied by low-temperature infrared spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations. According to DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) calculations, 12 minima were found on the potential energy surface of the molecule, corresponding to two cis conformers about the O=C-N-N axis (C1, C2) and one form trans about this axis (T), all being 4-fold degenerate by symmetry. The C1 conformer was predicted to be more stable than T and C2, by 20.4 and 22.6 kJ mol(-1), respectively. In consonance with these results, only C1 could be observed in low-temperature argon and xenon matrixes as well as in the neat glassy state prepared from the vapor of the compound at 70 degrees C. The C1 conformer was also found to be the constituting monomeric unit of the crystalline phase of INH produced from warming of the low-temperature neat amorphous state. The infrared spectra of INH in the different phases studied were fully assigned. After UV (lambda>> 235 nm) irradiation of the matrix-isolated isoniazid, the compound was found to undergo photolysis through two different pathways: a Norris type I alpha-cleavage leading to production of isonicotinaldehyde and N2H2 and a concerted sigmatropic reaction with production of pyridine, CO and N2H2. The latter reaction was found to be nearly two times faster than the former in both argon and xenon matrixes. In addition, both reactions were found to be disfavored in a xenon matrix, which is in consonance with the involvement of (n, pi*) excited states in both photochemical processes.

This study determined whether immunoneutralization of inhibin affected gonadotropin secretion, embryo development, and ovarian function in mink. Adult female mink (n = 10) were immunized with bovine inhibin alpha 1-26 gly-tyr (bINH, 100 micrograms) conjugated to human alpha globulins (HAG), or with HAG alone (n = 10, controls), mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant. A series of five boosters containing bINH or HAG were then administered during a 2-yr period. Titers of bINH antibodies and serum concentrations of gonadotropins were determined for each breeding season in 1990 and 1991. Each year after whelping, we determined gestation length; sex, number, and weight of live and dead kits per litter at birth; and number and weight of kits per litter 3 wk after whelping. Results were pooled for statistical analysis. Bovine INH antibody titers (percent 125I-bINH bound to serum diluted 1:8000) were 53 +/- 3% vs. 2 +/- 0.6%, and serum concentrations of FSH were higher (p < 0.05) in bINH-immunized mink compared with controls (144 +/- 23 vs. 67 +/- 12 ng/ml). However, number (3.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 5 +/- 0.4) and weight (8 +/- 0.3 vs. 9.7 +/- 0.4 g) of kits per litter at birth and number of kits per litter alive 3 wk after birth (2.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.4) were lower (p < 0.05) in bINH-immunized mothers compared with controls. During the nonbreeding season in 1991, a single injection of hCG (100 IU) was administered to bINH-immunized and control mink; 24 h later blood was sampled, and organ weights were determined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Co-administration of isonicotinic acid hydrazide (isoniazid, INH) and 17 alpha-ethinyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (norethindrone, NE) resulted in the formation of the isonicotinyl hydrazone of norethindrone (INH-NE) in rat stomach. Rat liver metabolized the latter compound in vitro. The metabolic product was characterized, following its derivatization with p-methoxy-benzaldehyde (PMBA), by comparison of chromatographic and mass spectral properties with synthetic reference compound. Results showed that INH-NE was cleaved at the amide bond resulting in the formation of the hydrazone of norethindrone. The physicochemical characteristics of synthetic PMBA hydrazone of norethindrone are described.

Previous observations from our laboratory have demonstrated that the levels of immunoreactive inhibin (ir-inh) are elevated in almost all patients with granulosa cell tumors and in the majority of postmenopausal women with mucinous ovarian cancers. The present report confirms these findings in a larger group of post-menopausal women. Immunohistochemistry for the inhibin alpha. beta A and beta B sununits shows predominantly epithelial staining in granulosa cell tumors and in the majority of mucinous cancers. Serous cystadenocarcinomas also frequently show positive staining. Studies seeking to identify G alpha i-2 or FSH receptor mutations have provided negative results in contrast to other reports. Further studies of the roles of the inhibin-related family of peptides in ovarian cancer diagnosis and monitoring are clearly indicated.

Previous observations from our laboratory have demonstrated that the levels of immunoreactive inhibin (ir-inh) are elevated in almost all patients with granulosa cell tumours and in the majority of postmenopausal women with mucinous ovarian cancers. The present manuscript confirms these findings in a larger group of postmenopausal women. Immunohistochemistry for the inhibin alpha, betaA and betaB subunits shows predominantly epithelial staining in granulosa cell tumours and in the majority of mucinous cancers. Serous cystadenocarcinomas also frequently show positive staining. Studies seeking to identify G alpha(i-2) or FSH receptor mutations have provided negative results in contrast to other reports. Further studies of the roles of the inhibin-related family of peptides in ovarian cancer diagnosis and monitoring are clearly indicated.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor (TNF-INH) was purified from human urine and it was composed of 161 amino acid residues. The complete amino acid sequence of TNF-INH found by sequence analysis agreed with that predicted from the cDNA structure for the extracellular domain (1-161 portion) of 55-kDa TNF receptor and its processing site at the C-terminal was Asn-161.

BACKGROUND

Analytical error affects 2nd-trimester maternal serum screening for Down syndrome risk estimation. We analyzed the between-laboratory reproducibility of risk estimates from 2 laboratories.

METHODS

Laboratory 1 used Bayer ACS180 immunoassays for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), Diagnostic Systems Laboratories (DSL) RIA for unconjugated estriol (uE3), and DSL enzyme immunoassay for inhibin-A (INH-A). Laboratory 2 used Beckman immunoassays for AFP, hCG, and uE3, and DSL enzyme immunoassay for INH-A. Analyte medians were separately established for each laboratory. We used the same computational algorithm for all risk calculations, and we used Monte Carlo methods for computer modeling.

RESULTS

For 462 samples tested, risk figures from the 2 laboratories differed >2-fold for 44.7%, >5-fold for 7.1%, and >10-fold for 1.7%. Between-laboratory differences in analytes were greatest for uE3 and INH-A. The screen-positive rates were 9.3% for laboratory 1 and 11.5% for laboratory 2, with a significant difference in the patients identified as screen-positive vs screen-negative (McNemar test, P<0.001). Computer modeling confirmed the large between-laboratory risk differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in performance of assays and laboratory procedures can have a large effect on patient-specific risks. Screening laboratories should minimize test imprecision and ensure that each assay performs in a manner similar to that assumed in the risk computational algorithm.

Eluates of 13 malignant and 17 normal tissues were prepared at 56 degrees C using the continuous flow technique. Albumin was detected in all the eluates. IgG, IgA, C3 or haptoglobin were detected in most of the malignant and some of the normal tissues. Carcinoembryonic antigen, beta 2-microglobulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin or alpha 1-antichymotrypsin were detected in some of the eluates of the malignant tissues only. IgM, IgD, C1q, C4, Cl-INH, alpha 1-macroglobulin, beta 2-lipoprotein, fibrinogen and alpha 1-foetoprotein were not detected in any of the eluates. The ratio of the concentration of albumin to the concentration of IgG was similar in extracts and eluates of all the normal tissue and in 3 of the malignant tissues indicating non-specific binding of IgG.

In newborn infants, the influence of gestational age (GA), postnatal age (PA), and health status on the plasma protease inhibitors alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M), alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), C1 esterase inhibitor (C1E-INH), alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP), and antithrombin III (AT-III) was investigated. Inhibitor levels were measured by radial-immunodiffusion and expressed as a percentage of pooled plasma from adults (mean +/- SEM). In total, 54 premature infants (28-36 weeks gestation) were classified at birth as healthy (N = 22) (IV fluids, antibiotics only) or sick (N = 32) (all other support, but excluding infants with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC] and studied on Days 1 and/or 7 of life. Healthy term infants (N = 18) and infants with DIC (N = 10) were studied on Day 1 only. All inhibitors except C1E-INH increased with increasing gestational age (P less than 0.01). In healthy premature infants all inhibitor levels reached the normal adult range by 1 week of age. In contrast, at 1 week of age, sick infants had lower levels of alpha 2-M and alpha 2-AP, and higher levels of alpha 1-AT compared to healthy infants (P less than 0.01). The presence of DIC depressed all of the inhibitors on Day 1 except alpha 1-AT when compared to healthy controls (P less than 0.01). Thus, gestational age, postnatal age, and health status all significantly influenced the levels of these plasma protease inhibitors.

Although gamma/delta T-cells are known to contain the highest frequency of mycobacteria-reactive cells in humans, and recent studies have suggested that they play an important role in the initial immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), very few studies have attempted to analyze these cells in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the gamma/delta T-cell populations present in the peripheral blood and the IFN-gamma production of gamma/delta T-cells stimulated by PMA before and after anti-TB chemotherapy in patients in the initial treatment stage for primary active pulmonary TB. Cell populations were measured by three-color flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We compared the population of gamma/delta T-cells and the production of IFN-gamma between normal healthy controls and TB patients. Absolute numbers of gamma/delta T-cells remained constant in the peripheral blood of TB patients. However, production of IFN-gamma in gamma/delta T-cells was dramatically suppressed prior to anti-TB chemotherapy in comparison with healthy control subjects, and further reduced following anti-TB chemotherapy. We also examined the influence of isoniazid (INH) in anti-TB chemotherapy. INH suppressed IFN-gamma production of gamma/delta and alpha/beta T-cells. The findings demonstrated a strong correlation between the production of IFN-gamma in gamma/delta T-cells and manifestation of primary active pulmonary TB, which was consistent with the hypothesized role for gamma/delta T-cells in the protective immune response to Mtb infection.

Mixed germ cell sex cord stromal tumours (MGSCTs) are composed of seminiferous tubules, filled with admixed neoplastic Sertoli cells (SCs) and germ cells (GCs). The aim of the present study was to describe 13 canine testicular MGSCTs and to investigate the histochemical features and the immunophenotype of the neoplastic GCs and SCs. Neoplastic SCs were always diffusely labelled for vimentin (VIM), neuron specific enolase (NSE), inhibin (INH)-α and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Cytokeratins AE1/AE3 (CK) and desmin (DES) were expressed in 6/13 and 8/13 cases, respectively. Neoplastic GCs were labelled for placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in 7/13 cases and for CD117 (KIT) in 8/13 cases, while 10 cases were stained uniformly by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Immature canine SCs are known to express CK, DES, INH-α and AMH, while immature GCs are stained by PAS and express PLAP and KIT. This GC phenotype also distinguishes between classical and spermatocytic seminoma, with the latter being negative for these markers. The results of the present study show that both neoplastic SCs and GCs in MGSCTs have a de-differentiated phenotype.

In vitro culture has been used to study different aspects of ovarian function; however, this technique has not been applied to study recrudescence, or the return of ovarian function in seasonally breeding species. In Siberian hamsters, exposure to inhibitory photoperiods induces declines in ovarian function, which are restored with photostimulation. Because these changes are mediated by changes in systemic gonadotropin (GT) secretion, we hypothesized that culturing photoregressed ovaries with GT would restore aspects of function and induce expression of key folliculogenic factors. Adult female Siberian hamsters were exposed to either long-day (LD; 16L:8D) or short-day (SD; 8L:16D) photoperiods for 14 weeks to maintain in vivo cyclicity or induce gonadal regression, respectively. Isolated ovaries were then cultured for 10 days with or without GT. Ovarian mass and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of mitotic marker Pcna were increased in cultured SD ovaries (cSD) ovaries with GT as compared to without GT, with no changes noted among cultured LD (cLD) ovaries. Media estradiol and progesterone concentrations increased in both cLD and cSD ovaries cultured with GT as compared to without GT. No differences in follicle numbers or incidence of apoptosis were noted across groups. In addition, differential mRNA expression of folliculogenic growth factors ( Bmp-4, Ntf-3, Inh-α, Gdf-9, Igf-1, Has-2, and Cox-2) was observed in cSD treated with or without GT. Together, these results suggest that this in vitro model could be a useful tool to (a) study the return of function in photoregressed ovaries, and (b) to identify the specific roles folliculogenic factors play in ovarian recrudescence.

BACKGROUND

Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, composed of an alpha-subunit (INH-α) and one of two possible beta-subunits (βA or βB), with substantial roles in human reproduction and in endocrine-responsive tumours. Aims of this study were to determine the serological measurement of inhibin A (α-βA) in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.

METHODS

A series of 30 breast cancer patients who underwent standardised chemotherapy were prospectively evaluated before chemotherapeutic treatment as well as four weeks after chemotherapy and two years after chemotherapy for the serological expression of inhibin A. For statistical analysis the Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for paired samples. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05.

RESULTS

The concentration of inhibin A showed a significant decrease between data obtained before chemotherapy and after chemotherapy (p<0.005) and two-year follow-up (p<0.001). Interestingly, there were no differences in inhibin A concentrations between the four-week and two-year follow-up (p=0.744).

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy significantly decreases inhibin A concentration during chemotherapy. This might reflect a suppression of ovarian function, being also a marker for chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea. Moreover, it has been suggested that inhibin A might be a tumour marker for breast cancer, and therefore a sudden increase in its concentration might be indicative of breast cancer recurrence.

The association between various parameters of acute and chronic smoking status and plasma levels of three proteins, C9, C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) and alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) were determined for 49 male cigarette smokers and 49 age-matched nonsmokers (mean age = 32.2 years). The mean number of cigarettes smoked was 28.7 per day while the cumulative consumption was only 18.1 pack-years. Plasma levels of all three proteins were significantly higher in the smokers than nonsmokers. Plasma C9 and alpha 1-PI concentrations correlated with cumulative cigarette consumption and plasma nicotine concentrations. While C1-INH concentration did not correlate with either cumulative cigarette consumption or plasma nicotine concentration, it correlated significantly with serum thiocyanate concentration. No consistent correlation was found between plasma concentration of these proteins and parameters of pulmonary function.

Spectrophotometric, FTIR and theoretical studies of the charge-transfer complexes between Isoniazid (pyridine-4-carboxylic acid hydrazide) and the acceptors (p-chloranil, chloranilic acid and tetracyanoethylene) in acetonitrile, their association constants, thermodynamic properties and other related properties were studied. Isoniazid (INH), a widely used anti tubercular agent was found to form beautifully colored charge-transfer complexes with p-chloranil, chloranilic acid and tetracyanoethylene in acetonitrile. The absorption maxima of the complexes were 484, 519 and 479 nm, respectively (isoniazid had no absorption, but the acceptors had absorption in these regions). The composition of the complexes were determined to be 1:1 from Job's method of continuous variations depending on the time period of experiments as the stability of some of the complexes (p-chloranil and tetracyanoethylene complexes) was time dependent. Solid complexes formed between isoniazid and the acceptors were isolated but p-chloranil was found to form two different complexes. FTIR spectra of the complexes and the acceptors were measured. FTIR spectra of the complexes showed considerable shift in absorption peaks, changes in intensities of the peaks and formation of the new band (probably due to hydrogen bonding) on complexation. The thermodynamic association constants and other thermodynamic parameters of the complexes were determined spectrophotometrically taking D and A in varying ratios (2:8-8:2) and also in equimolar ratios. The complex formation was found to be spontaneous and associated with negative changes of ΔG(0), ΔH(0) and ΔS(0). The energies hν(CT) of the charge-transfer complexes were compared with the theoretical values of hν(CT) of the complexes obtained from HOMO and LUMO of the donor and the acceptors. Density function theory utilizing different basis sets was used for calculation. hν(CT) (experimental) values of the transition energies of the complexes in acetonitrile differed from hν(CT) (theoretical) values in the gaseous state. I(D)(V) value of isoniazid was calculated. Charge-transfer complexes were assumed to be partial electrovalent compounds with organic dative ions D(+) and A(-) (in the excited state) and attempts had been made to correlate the energy changes for the formation of the complexes with the energy changes for the formation of electrovalent compounds between M(+) and X(-) ions.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly used analgesics in the world. NSAIDs decrease prostaglandin synthesis through cyclooxygenase inhibition (COX-1 or COX-2). The effects of NSAIDs on survival and outcomes from global ischemia reperfusion events and specifically from cardiac arrest (CA) remain controversial. We hypothesized that NSAIDs prior to global whole-body ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury impairs survival and outcomes. We explored this hypothesis in our swine model of Cardiac Arrest (CA) which involves global I/R with pretreatment using a predominantly COX-1 inhibitor (Indomethacin [COX-1/min COX-2 Inh], a COX-2 Inhibitor [COX-2-Inh, (Celecoxib)] or placebo control. We determined the effects of each inhibitor on a) survival, b) myocardial injury biomarker (Troponin 1), and c) Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) injury marker (heart rate variability [HRV]) up to 3 h after resuscitation. There were no survivals in COX-1/min COX-2-Inh pretreated animals and, 87% survived in both COX-2 Inhibited and control animals. COX-2 Inh pretreated animals had an 1800 fold increase of Troponin 1 compared to baseline whereas control animals had a 90 fold increase (p < 0.001). These results along with literature review of focal I/R in animal models with COX-2 overexpression, human studies of CA, and post myocardial infarction treatment with NSAIDs, support the hypothesis that NSAIDs prior to an I/R event impairs survival and outcomes. Specifically, predominantly COX-1 inhibition impairs survival, and COX-2 inhibition induces myocardial damage, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and increases the risk for all-cause mortality and morbidity in humans post-MI which has significant implications for the nearly 10% of the population who are taking NSAIDs.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder affecting approximately 1 in 50000 persons. It causes frequent attacks of non-pitting, non-pruritic edema without urticaria, usually of the skin of the extremities, gastrointestinal tract, and upper airways. Gastrointestinal attacks may cause severe pain, and attacks in the laryngeal region may lead to asphyxiation and death. HAE usually begins in childhood or adolescence and persists throughout life. The majority of HAE cases are caused by mutations that result in low levels of functional C1-inhibitor (C1-INH), a serine protease inhibitor that plays regulatory roles in the contact, complement, and fibrinolytic systems. Low C1-INH function results in overproduction of bradykinin, the primary cause of HAE symptoms. Type I HAE is characterized by low levels of functional C1-INH, whereas type II HAE is characterized by normal levels of dysfunctional C1-INH. A third type of HAE has a similar presentation, but is not due to C1-INH deficiency or impairment. Some patients with type III HAE carry mutations in the coagulation factor XII gene that do not alter factor XII plasma levels but markedly increase its activity. HAE is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, sometimes leading to inappropriate treatment that may include surgery. HAE should be suspected in any patient who presents with repeated attacks of cutaneous edema without urticaria or recurrent unexplained abdominal pain. Diagnosis requires laboratory testing of complement levels. HAE requires disease-specific treatment with agents that increase functional C1-INH levels and/or reduce the production or activity of bradykinin. These treatments include C1-INH concentrates, icatibant, ecallantide, and attenuated androgens. HAE severely reduces patients' quality of life, which makes supportive care an essential part of the treatment program.

The transforming growth factors beta (TGFβ) are local factors produced by ovarian cells which, after binding to their receptors, regulate follicular deviation and ovulation. However, their regulation and function during corpus luteum (CL) regression has been poorly investigated. The present study evaluated the mRN<em>A</em> regulation of some TGFβ family ligands and their receptors in the bovine CL during induced luteolysis <i>in vivo</i>. On day 10 of the estrous cycle, cows received an injection of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) and luteal samples were obtained from separate groups of cows (n= 4-5 cows per time-point) at 0, 2, 12, 24 or 48 h after treatment. Since TGF beta family comprises more than 30 ligands, we focused in some candidates genes such as activin receptors (<i><em>A</em>CVR-1<em>A</em></i>, <i>-1B</i>, <i>-2<em>A</em></i>, <i>-2B</i>) <i><em>A</em>MH</i>, <i><em>A</em>MHR2</i>, <i>BMPs</i> (<i>BMP-1</i>, <i>-2</i>, <i>-3</i>, <i>-4</i>, <i>-6 and -7</i>), BMP receptors (<i>BMPR-1<em>A</em></i>, <i>-1B</i> and -<i>2</i>), inhibin subunits (<i><em>INH</em>-<em>A</em></i>, <i>-B<em>A</em></i>, <i>-BB</i>) and betaglycan (<i>TGFBR3</i>). The mRN<em>A</em> levels of <i>BMP4</i>, <i>BMP6</i> and <i><em>INH</em>B<em>A</em></i> were higher at 2 h after PGF administration (P<0.05) in comparison to 0 h. The relative mRN<em>A</em> abundance of <i>BMP1</i>, <i>BMP2</i>, <i>BMP3</i>, <i>BMP4</i>, <i>BMP6</i>, <i><em>A</em>CVR1B</i>, <i><em>INH</em>B<em>A</em></i> and <i><em>INH</em>BB</i> was upregulated up to 12 h post PGF (P<0.05). On the other hand, <i>TGFBR3</i> mRN<em>A</em> that codes for a reservoir of ligands that bind to TGF-beta receptors, was lower at 48 h. In conclusion, findings from this study demonstrated that genes encoding several TGFβ family members are expressed in a time-specific manner after PGF administration.

A purification method for C1 esterase is described. The final product significantly improved the sensitivity and the specificity of the enzymatic measurement of its plasma inhibitor C1-INH or alpha 2-neuraminoglycoprotein (alpha 2-NGP) by esterolysis of a synthetic substrate N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (ALTEe). A comparative study was done between the chromatographed C1 esterase and the native serum euglobulins: qualitative and quantitative determination of the serum contaminants, enzymatic activity measurement of C1-INH in normal subjects and in patients suffering from hereditary angioneurotic oedema (OANH) as well as in therapeutical C1-inhibitor concentrates.

Background: This study describes patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who are eligible for secondary prevention and assesses their healthcare consumption and costs from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service (INHS).

Methods: From the Fondazione Ricerca e Salute's database, which collects Italian healthcare administrative data, all patients aged ≥ 35, with ≥1 primary in-hospital CAD diagnosis and/or procedure on the coronary arteries, or with the specific disease exemption code, and who are suitable for long-term secondary prevention treatments, were identified in 2018 and analyzed. Demographics, comorbidities, one-year supplied drugs, hospitalizations, and costs were analyzed.

Results: From >3 million inhabitants aged ≥ 35, 46,063 (1.3%) were identified (72.1% males, mean age 70 ± 12; approximately 50% with ≥3 comorbidities). During a one-year follow-up, 96.4% were treated with ≥1 drug for secondary prevention (mainly antiplatelets and lipid lowering agents), 69.4% with ≥1 concomitant cardiovascular drug, and 95.8% with ≥1 concomitant non-cardiovascular therapy. Within one year, 30.6% of patients were hospitalized at least once, mostly due to non-cardiovascular events. Calculated by mean, the INHS paid EUR 6078 per patient.

Conclusions: This analysis confirms the relevant burden of CAD for patients with many comorbidities and who are frequently hospitalized, and the burden on the INHS. A multidisciplinary healthcare approach is encouraged to improve patients' outcomes and reduce costs for the INHS.

Keywords: coronary artery disease; database; public health; secondary prevention.